PCCC/SCCC

I'm hoping that someone who was (or is) a Passaic county college or Sussex county college nursing student can tell me if you have clinicals 1 or 2 days a week in nursing I, for how long, and how much does it increase when you are in nursing II, III, IV?

I'm at the Nursing Program at PCCC and I'm starting Nursing 2 this fall.

As to your question, in Nursing 1, for example for the day program ( fall) you'll have class the first couple weeks M- Th for 3 and 1/2 hours or so, then about the 4th week in, you start clinicals. Clinicals are usually designated to two days of the week, but each person is assigned one day ( The instructors share all the students between those two days).

Other things that fill in the cracks of time you think you are 'free' for are lab skills which have to be completed in a time frame, weekly clinical paperwork ( only starts when you start clinicals), and of course, studying ( study groups helped a lot, but only when people are prepared to do just that)

Then in Nursing 2, class is also about 3 and 1/2 hours or so, clinicals are also assigned two days a week, but each student has clinicals 2 days a week as opposed to the 1 day a week in NUR 1.

Hope this helps.

Jan 30, '10

Thank you so much for your reply. How is the course's so far? I've heard mix reviews. Some say it's do able other claim it's nearly impossible. What were the clinical's like in Nursing 1? Also, you have class, labs, and clinicals M-Th and Friday there isn't anything scheduled, but the lab is open for practice, right?

So you mentioned in Nursing 2 that clinical's are 2 days so does that mean that there are only 2 days of class then? Does the schedule continue to follow that pattern? Like in Nursing 3, do you have clinical's 3 days a week and 1 day of class, then in Nursing 4, you are in clinical's all 4 days? One advisor at school told me by the end (nursing 4) you were in the hospital 8 hours a day 4 days a week. That sounds a little intimadating, but if it's true by that point in the program you're probably ready for it.

Jan 30, '10

The course is going, we're in the second week so far.

With the claims that others have about the course, my reply to that is, is this something you want to do or not? There's tons of people in the program currently that say that, but none of their criticism is constructive. Rather than focus on for example, "What is a nursing action important in the pathology of a disease important", you'll hear, " The course is so hard....."
You can see how someone can easily psych themselves to fail the course, and not to mention throwing away the tuition they pay.

Nursing 1 clinicals, I think is similar to driving to a destination with directions, being that's it will be your first time, you might make some wrong turns but all in all, you getting to the end result is in your decision.

Yes, there are only two days of class in Nur 2, same with Nursing 3 ( I imagine Nur 4 follows the same 2 day pattern but I havent asked anyone in 4 yet, when I do, i can let you know)Does the schedule continue to follow that pattern? Like in Nursing 3, do you have clinical's 3 days a week and 1 day of class, then in Nursing 4, you are in clinical's all 4 days?

If anything at all, concentrate on getting into the program 1st before you hear the 1001 things that happen in the program, and they always start students off at the baby stage in nur 1, where you learn the fundamentals, I wouldn't expect you to give a newborn baby keys to a car to drive yet.

Hope I was able to answer your questions, and how's the admission process going for you?

Jan 30, '10

Hello,

When I read your post I was wondering how far along in the program you were, because you mentioned not being in Nursing 2 till fall, but you had so much knowledge of nursing 1 that I thought maybe you were taking this semester off or something So you are a night nursing student? I think that PCCC offers night every Jan and day every fall right?. I want to be a night student as well. I'm applying for the Jan 2011 class at SCCC since that is when the night program is offered next. I have all gen ed course (I think it's like 30 credits) complete except for Micro which I may try to do this summer, but I'm not sure. I averaged a 4.0 gpa amazingly so that gives me a good amount of points. Right now though I took the NET once and only scored in the 76 percentile so it makes my points not look so great. How did you do on the NET? I literally only got a little more then half the reading done before the test closed down. I have to read faster next time. Do you have any tips for the NET? I got the study guide so I plan to use that again.

I hear you on people's attitudes making or breaking the course for them. I also agree on your example of what a constructive way to think is verses a destructive way to think.

I can see clinicals in nursng 1 being a very big learning experience. You'll have to update me when you go. Do you go to a nursing home first?

Ok, so the 4 days a week clinical is probably bogus. Please let me know what you hear about nursing 4. Do you know how hard it is to find out that kind of information? I asked 4 different faculity members and got 4 different answers on how many hours you were in class/lab or clinical. I have a family so I wanted to make sure I could keep up with the demands of the program each semester, but no one seemed to know what actually went into the nursing program. My next step was to talk to a nursing prof, but luckily I got a response here.

What was it like getting in at PCCC? What it as competitive as they say? Do you have any classes left to take?

Talk to you later

Jan 30, '10

Hi, one things for sure, you ask a lot of questions, but that's good, how else will you know?

When I read your post I was wondering how far along in the program you were, because you mentioned not being in Nursing 2 till fall, but you had so much knowledge of nursing 1 that I thought maybe you were taking this semester off or something So you are a night nursing student?

I am currently in Nur 2 for the day program and I am endrolled this semester. I don't intend to take any semesters off since its a degree that should be gotten from a 2 year college in, of course 2 years. I might be digressing but i know of a woman who's used 6 - 7 plus years and is still in this program. I don't know what her outside school responsibilities are, but I'm a firm believer in doing things according to time.

I think that PCCC offers night every Jan and day every fall right?. I want to be a night student as well. I'm applying for the Jan 2011 class at SCCC since that is when the night program is offered next.

I have all gen ed course (I think it's like 30 credits) complete except for Micro which I may try to do this summer, but I'm not sure. I averaged a 4.0 gpa amazingly so that gives me a good amount of points. Right now though I took the NET once and only scored in the 76 percentile so it makes my points not look so great. How did you do on the NET? I literally only got a little more then half the reading done before the test closed down. I have to read faster next time. Do you have any tips for the NET? I got the study guide so I plan to use that again.

Excellent GPA! The admission to the program works on a point system that depends on your GPA, NET score, etc... There is an orange brochure that you can get from the school that gives you more info about it. I know that at the Passaic campus (2 Paulison Ave), you can get this orange brochure from the secretaries if you don't already have one, and it breaks down everything you need to know about the program. Just stop by the office before 4pm any business day on the second floor at the campus and ask around. You are already at an advantage with the GPA and the NET wont hurt you. I had a GPA of 3.3 and an overall net score of 99% so if you still have the time to take it again to put you ahead of the game, do so.

I remember in the Language section of the net, there were 2 questions that I didn't answer and it still didnt hurt me. There's also basic math on the test as well, which I don't think you should have a problem with.

I can see clinicals in nursng 1 being a very big learning experience. You'll have to update me when you go. Do you go to a nursing home first?

All clinical assignments are at Hospitals. St Josephs hospital in Paterson and Wayne are commonly used for clinicals along with Chilton Memorial, Ramapo Rigde, etc. For Nur 1, the focus is care of geriatric patients ( older population), so you're dealing with people with diabetes, Alzheimer's, Circulatory problems, etc. A big way i've noticed that helps in preparation of clinicals is that those who have worked or currently work in hospitals as PCA's or CNAs are more comfortable in caring for patients. If it was something that I had known earlier, i might've looked into it, but all the same, I learnt as the program went along. I start clinicals next week Tuesday.

Ok, so the 4 days a week clinical is probably bogus. Please let me know what you hear about nursing 4. Do you know how hard it is to find out that kind of information? I asked 4 different faculity members and got 4 different answers on how many hours you were in class/lab or clinical. I have a family so I wanted to make sure I could keep up with the demands of the program each semester, but no one seemed to know what actually went into the nursing program. My next step was to talk to a nursing prof, but luckily I got a response here.

I'm yet to talk to anyone higher up in the program, but I'll get back to you this coming week. Also go on to talk to the professors,you might have to also talk to a professor if you can make it to the Passaic campus, i can get you office hours if you're interested

What was it like getting in at PCCC? What it as competitive as they say? Do you have any classes left to take?

As far as it being competitive, I transferred into PCCC from another county, and I personally think PCCC is more accessible to get into. Why? Some other places like essex county, if you're not a student there have other requirements and instead of the NET which is basic math, reading comprehension, requires you to take to HESI exam ( with googleing online has questions on lot of disease processes and chemistry, anatomy and physiology as well as biology) not to mention you have to write an admission essay. PCCC has a lot less requirements for admission. I applied literally at the last minute, got my transcript evaluated, took the NET with a 2 weeks notice last summer, gave it everything, and I got in. Mind you, I had just switched majors over the summer period. Also, to answer your question about the Micro, you don't need to take until Nursing 3,( I'm taking it in the summer since I don't start nursing 3 till this fall) but seeing that you might have the time, and maybe the money, you can knock it out in the summer, or in the fall of this year so that you are still used to studying regularly till you get in in 2011.

Talk to you later
I'm sure i will

Feb 1, '10

About the days for clinicals, it stays two days a week from nur 1 through 4, where students are in clinicals 2 days of the week; with nursing 4 spending an 8 hour shift ( 3-11pm or 7am-3pm)

and Nursing 1 is assigned 2 days of clinicals, but each student is only in the hospital one day a week.

Hope this helps.

Mar 4, '10

Thanks for breaking down everything, beatrocker, it is helpful to know what it's like from someone currently in the program.

Mtru11, I am thinking of taking Micro in the Summer too maybe we can be study buddies, lol. I'm taking A&P and Chem this semester while trying to hold down a full time job with 2 kiddies (what was I thinking?)

Anyway,

Best of luck to both of you.

P.S. beatrocker is there any support as far as upper classmates guiding lower classmates at the school? It would be really helpful to have someone who has been through it guide newbies through the courses.

D

Apr 24, '10

Hello dtsh26

I haven't been on here in a while, and I'm happy to see a fellow PCCC comrade joining the good fight

Funny enough, I was about taking Micro this summer myself, along with some of my class buddies, so you'll probably rub elbows with some Nursing 2 students, but turns out I got a Nurse externship this summer.

How's the progress with the program thus far? I'd imagine that you've taking the NET and waiting to hear back?

Apr 24, '10

By the way, there's always upper class students willing to help in any way they can.

I made friends with a good number of them in nursing 1, and I gotta say that with the little tid bits that they provide on mistakes they made, and bits of info, the whole Nurses eat their young saying doesn't apply to Nursing students currently in school.

Heck, I was just at Barnes and Nobles today in the nursing section for books, and some other guy that is also a nurse and I got into a conversation about nursing ( what else would we talk about??)

Apr 25, '10

Hi, beatrocka

Thanks for replying.

Ya know, I was in Barnesnoble yesterday myself (with my chem books) and there were two groups of nursing students studying, I was so tempted to ask them some questions but I didn't want to seem like a groupy, lol.
As far as school, I may be able to save my grades in chem if I ace the next two exams, I screwed up the first two (apparently I'm better at organic than inorganic). I took the NET back in February and got an 88, hopefully, that's good enough and then I will apply to the nursing program right after I get my chem and A&P grades.

Congratulations on your externship, you"ll have to tell me how you did that one day, I hear those are hard to come by. What unit will you be in?

De

Apr 25, '10

I can relate to you on feeling like a groupie, but sometimes, I myself have been nosy enough to ask questions, I remember once, I just went right up to some nursing students who were studying and I actually got some tips on certain things to in the future.

Nice score on the NET, I'd imagine that you can calculate you score number from the score, your GPA and the toher criteria.
Let your will to get into the program motivate you to study and prepare you even more for the coming exams.